Career: Mental Health Counselors
A mental health counselor meets with a small group of people with severe mental problems. At first, the counselor is very active. He asks members questions about the history of their illnesses, how they cope, and what it's like to interact with others.
Over time, the counselor says less and less, encouraging group members to ask the questions and provide support. After the sessions end, they report that their lives have improved: they have more confidence, more friends, and more fun.
Mental health counselors treat people with mental and emotional problems. They help people work through everything from job stress to marriage conflicts to suicidal impulses.
“I enjoy helping people make their lives more livable and less painful.”
Seamus, Psychiatric Counselor
Are You Ready To...?
- Counsel people one-on-one and in groups
- Diagnose clients (identify their problems)
- Give psychological tests
- Keep records
- Keep up with the latest therapy techniques
- Work with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals
It Helps to Be...
Able to balance caring for others with self-care in order to avoid burnout (also known as compassion fatigue). You'll also want to be able to listen without judgment -- easier said than done, but you'll get better at it with practice.
Make High School Count
- Take psychology to learn about human development, emotions, and communication.
- Sign up to be a peer counselor at your school.
- Keep a diary to get to know your own inner thoughts, questions, and struggles at a deeper level.
Did You Know?
- According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects up to six million American men and twelve million American women every year.
Outlook
Government economists expect job growth for mental health counselors to be much faster than the average for all careers through 2016. In fact, it is among the twenty-fastest-growing careers.
One reason for this growth is that states are providing more services to children and teens with problems. Also, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are turning to counselors more often because they charge less than psychiatrists and psychologists.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average salary of mental health counselors in 2008 was $40,270.
